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Actress Uhm Jung-hwa on ageism in Korean drama

By Vibeke Venema, Julie Yoonnyung Lee and Samantha Haque

BBC World Service

Many Korean television series - or K-dramas - now feature complex and powerful female characters, reflecting momentous changes in society and media habits.

K-dramas are now just as likely to have a female lead as a male. One of this year's biggest hits, The Glory, was about a woman taking revenge against her bullies, and the hugely popular Extraordinary Attorney Woo featured an autistic female lawyer.

Women's roles in K-drama weren't always this interesting. Traditionally made to be watched by the whole family, nowadays shows even have the odd sex scene - and taboos like bisexual relationships and older people having love lives are being broken.

"In the 1990s Korean dramas were mainly about chaebol - rich heirs - loving poor women," says Hong Eun-mi, vice-chair of the Korean Screenwriters' Association.